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Friday, April 24, 2015

Barter up! Swap office skills for free yoga classes

Courtesy Google Images

Cashless in Yogaland?

It’s a catch-22. You love practicing yoga, but Sun Salutations don’t come cheap at many studios. For
example, sessions run $20 a pop for adults and $15 for students at Be Evolution Yoga of Montclair, New Jersey. In business for nine years, the studio has long
offered Yoga/Work Exchange opportunities to those in need and started a formal
program about five years back.

“Volunteers
can either work at our front desk, answering the phone and checking in classes,
or clean the studio after closing,” says Jagadisha, its owner. In return, Karmi
yogis, as they’re often referred to, receive an unlimited yoga class pass.

Be
Evolution Yoga typically accepts 20-25 people in to the program at any given
time, which for a few, has proven to be a path toward employment.

“We’ve
had volunteers become yoga teachers through our teacher training program, and
one recently became our assistant manager,” says Jagadisha.

If
you’d like your area studio do offer a similar arrangement, “I’d suggest
pointing out, that a traditional way of practicing yoga and supporting a
community of practitioners, is through seva, or selfless service,” says
Jagadisha.